"I don't want to go home"
These words hit him right to the heart. She was clearly not fine as she kept saying outside the club. And she had just made a small step; accepting the fact that she was not okey. He reached for her hand and held it tight. "Okey… I have an idea" He fondled it gently and changed direction, driving away from the route that leaded to her home.
She recognized the route immediately. They arrived at their final destination in less than twenty minutes. Damn… She had never seen him driving so slowly before. He wanted her to enjoy the ride as much as he did. Driving seaside, enjoying the sunset, letting the wind enter from the open window, hitting her face, messing her blond hair, were some things that calmed her down. And he knew that.
He parked the car right outside. The sun had almost set and the street lights were just turned on. He jumped out of the hummer and rushed to open the passenger's door for her. He smiled at her and gave her his hand to help her get off the car. She smiled back at him, brightening up a little bit her face. The exhaustion and tiredness were written on every expression she was making. Even if she was cracking a smile.
They walked towards the door as he was searching for the keys in his pocket. He gently placed his other hand around her shoulders; God knew how safe she was feeling at that moment. When he pulled the keys out, she couldn't help but notice the keychain she had given him last year, when he was released from the hospital.
He put his last things in the bag and waited patiently for Calleigh. She had been trying to find his doctor all day to sign the discharge papers so that she could take him home. She had spent almost every night at the hospital these past two weeks, helping him with his recovery. And he was more than thankful to have her during this difficult time. She was trying to fill his memory gaps of these nine months that he had missed.
Her angelic voice brought him back from his thoughts. "Hey" He raised his head and looked at her. "Are you ready?" He simple nodded his head and got up from the bed he was sitting. He reached for the bag but she stopped him. "Hey hey! Doctor said to avoid lifting weights" she said always with a smile and a little bit of concern in her tone.
"Come on Cal it's just a bag" he said cracking a smile.
"If you want to carry something, take this" and she gave him a small squared box. "Open it" Without even knowing what there was in, he knew this was the best gift he had ever received. He opened it and placed the lid under the box. It was keychain. A big 'E' – standing for Eric – was hanging. "For the key to your new life"
He looked at her, trying to hold his tears. "This is the best and the most beautiful present I was ever given" He detected a small misbelief at her eyes. "I mean it!" He looked down at the box and then back her, into her eyes. "I don't know if I would have pulled through without your help" He paused for a moment. "Without you"
"You would have done the same thing for me"
"I pray you'll never need my help the way I did" he cut her off with a more than serious tone.
"Okey" She grabbed the bag, letting it hanging on her shoulder, and gave him her hand. "Let's go home"
He unlocked the door and let her stepped in first. It wasn't the first time she's been to his place. But this time she felt different. She felt warmth. And safety. She felt untouchable. No one and nothing could hurt her there. "So… what do you wanna eat? I don't have anything in the fridge… but I can cook if you want or order anything you like"
"Spaghetti, plain, with some cheese" she replied without a second thought.
"Really? You haven't eaten anything in the last, at least, twenty-four hours and you want this dry food? I'm an excellent cook if you must know"
"I have no doubt but believe me… that's all I want eat right now. I can live with plain pasta for the rest of my life" They shared a small laughter and stared at each other for a moment. "Can I ask you for a favor?"
"Anything you want"
"I really, really need to take a shower"
"Of course. Come on" He led her his bedroom, where the bathroom was. He opened a few closets looking for any clothes what could fit her. "I gave all of Marisol's clothes to the church when H and I returned from Brazil" he murmured. "Definitely not your size but…" he said as he pulled out a pair of grey gym pants that didn't fit him anymore "these will do your job" and he placed them on the bed. He opened a drawer and took out a white t-shirt, placing it next to the pants on the bed. "And…" he said as he opened another drawer "clean towels"
"Thank you so much Eric"
He smiled at her. His smile could heal every wound of her soul. "Food will be ready by the time you finish" She nodded her head as he left the room closing the door behind him.
Note: I'll drop a tiny spoiler here and I'll tell you that I'm currently writing a ff about Eric's recovery.